MLB: Japanese Powerhouse Okamoto Hits 19th Homer, Breaks Rookie Record

Kazuma Okamoto, the Japanese slugger who joined the Blue Jays this offseason on a four-year, $60 million deal, has made a significant impact in his rookie MLB season. On Friday, he launched his 19th home run against the Rangers, officially breaking a long-standing Japanese rookie record.

The two-run blast in the eighth inning traveled 378 feet with an exit velocity of 99.9 mph. This marks Okamoto's 19th long ball of the year and his second consecutive game with a home run. He has been on a tear recently, hitting four home runs in his last six games, though his team ultimately lost Friday's game 5-4.

Okamoto's 19th home run surpassed the previous record for home runs by a Japanese right-handed hitter in their MLB rookie season, which was held by Kenji Johjima with 18 homers in 2006. He is now also closing in on Shohei Ohtani's 2018 rookie record of 22 home runs.

Beyond his power hitting, Okamoto is leading the Blue Jays across multiple offensive categories. He tops the team in home runs, RBIs (53), slugging percentage (.479), and OPS. His strong performance has also earned him significant recognition from fans, as he secured approximately 2.12 million votes in the first phase of All-Star balloting, placing him first among American League third basemen and advancing him to the final vote.